The Labour Government approved plans for three major solar farms in the UK that are all more than five times larger than the largest existing solar farm in the country.
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband approved the plans as part of a major push towards making Britain a "clean energy superpower" and combat energy price rises.
The decision has drawn criticism from Conservative MPs who claim the Government is "listening to the demands of Just Stop Oil than the needs of rural communities" with concerns over the effect of food production and the supposed rushed nature of the decision.
Where are the solar farms being installed?
The government has approved three major solar projects in the East of England, marking a series of green energy decisions by the new Labour administration last week.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has given planning permission for the projects at Mallard Pass in Rutland and Lincolnshire, Gate Burton in Lincolnshire and Sunnica in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
A spokesperson for one of the solar projects, Sunnica, said: “Sunnica is immensely pleased with the decision to grant development consent for Sunnica Energy Farm. Sunnica would make a nationally significant contribution towards the UK’s legal obligation to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and its ongoing energy security.
“This important milestone, and the decision by the Secretary of State, has come after many months of intense scrutiny and robust engagement with the planning process and wider public consultations."
How much energy is expected to be produced?
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) claim the solar farms will hold a capacity of 1.35 GWs, which is enough to power over 400,000 homes.
The Gate Burton project in Lincolnshire, developed by Low Carbon, is expected to hold a capacity of 500 megawatts (MW - one million watts), as is the Sunnica Energy Farm project on the Suffolk-Cambridgeshire border. The Mallard Pass solar farm on the East Coast Mainline in Lincolnshire and Rutland is predicted to hold a capacity of 350 MW.
All of these projects will far surpass the current largest solar farm in the UK, Shotwick Solar Park in Flintshire, Wales, which has a capacity of 72.2 MW.
Criticism drawn from Conservatives and farmers
Several Conservative MPs have criticised the solar farm plans, which were rejected by the previous Conservative Government.
Alicia Kearns, the Conservative MP for Rutland and Melton, is one of those to oppose the plans after threatening legal action against the Mallard Pass project.
She said: "I am utterly appalled that less than one week into his role, Ed Miliband has approved the Mallard Pass Solar Plant for construction."
Kearns criticised the project for ignoring community consent, human rights, and food security. She also accused it of supporting Uyghur slave labour in China's Xinjiang and questioned if the government had reviewed all documents since the election.
Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho also opposed the solar farms, stating: “It’s clear that Ed Miliband has more interest in listening to the demands of Just Stop Oil than the needs of rural communities.
"Climate policy cannot come at the expense of struggling families, or the nation’s food or economic security or it will fail.”
Farmer and TV presenter Nigel Owens MBE also questioned the decision on Twitter, stating: "Why on earth are we losing our food production ability on top quality land when there are other alternatives and places to put solar panels."
He said the decision was "reducing our ability to produce our own food" and claimed "there is a better way than this" in order to produce more sustainable energy.
Miliband says 'tough decisions' are needed to meet 'energy independence'
Labour has maintained that in order to meet the country's net zero goals and reduce energy bills "tough decisions" must be made.
Ed Miliband claimed: "Solar power is crucial to achieving net zero, providing an abundant source of cleaner, cheaper energy on the mission towards 2030.
"Some of these cases had been held up for months before I arrived in the department. They were put on my desk on Monday and I've made a decision in three days. This is the speed we're working at to achieve energy independence, cut bills for families and kickstart green economic growth.
"We will make tough decisions with ambition and urgency - all part of our plan to make the UK a clean energy superpower."
The solar farm decision comes shortly after Miliband lifted the ban on onshore wind farms.
